THE RIGHT SIZE
Consider two things when sizing a cage: Bar spacing and inside dimensions. Proper bar spacing helps prevent injury and escape. Check out our bar spacing recommendations in our cage selection
guide. As long as bar spacing is the appropriate size for your bird, a bigger cage is always better. In other words, give your bird the biggest inside dimensions you can afford. For larger birds, we recommend at least 1-1/2 times your bird’s adult wingspan in width, depth, and height. Our inside
measurements do not include the space between the floor grate and the litter tray, so you know exactly how much “livable” space your bird will have.

THE RIGHT STYLE
Playtop cages offer your bird a two-in-one combination – a spacious living space and an entertaining play space. Many include
toy hangers, perches, and ladders. Some playtops can be removed and used as a tabletop playstand. A litter catcher under the playtop keeps the cage interior free of
droppings and can be removed for cleaning. Dometop cages provide more wing and headroom. Their openness allows your bird to climb around smoothly on any inside surface and allows perches to be placed
higher in the cage. If you choose a dometop cage, consider purchasing a separate playstand, so your bird has a place to play and exercise outside the cage. Aviaries are
ideal for smaller, active birds. They give your bird room to socialize, form flocks, and fly.

our feathered friend spends much of her time
in her cage. Since a cage is also one of the biggest investments you’ll make for your bird, your selection process is crucial.
Look for cages that keep your bird safe, give her plenty of room, and provide easy access and cleanup for you. Beyond those basics, explore the many features that transform a cage from a mere habitat into a beautiful and comfortable home.

cage appearanceStandard metal wire cages are usually the most economical but seldom praised for their looks. When you want your cage to augment the color scheme in your home, you may want to select a durable powder-coated cage (where paint is adhered to metal via electrostatic charges). These attractive cages come in a variety of colors. Or, you can join the many bird owners who are selecting stainless steel cages. Stainless steel, though higher
priced, is growing in popularity with bird owners for the same reasons it has transformed kitchens and bathrooms. It is virtually birdproof, it is rust resistant, it won’t chip like painted cages, and its non-porous structure is very easy to clean and sanitize.

seed skirts
A boon to help prevent scattered food, droppings, or bits of chewed toys from making a mess on your floors. A good seed skirt has well-constructed seams that prevent the smallest particles from falling through to the floor.

doors
Move beyond the basic sliding door. Look for swinging style doors or cages with a door-in-door. Smaller doors help prevent your bird from escaping while you access the inside of the cage. Larger doors, however, give easier access to the back of your cage and also help prevent wing or feather damage to your bird when removing him from the cage. The door-in-door style combines these two functions – you can open the smaller door to provide food or water without escape or use the larger door to clean or remove your bird. On some models, the whole front door panel removes for even easier cleaning access. We recommend birdproof locks, also.

litter trays
Litter trays are the easiest way to remove bird droppings and keep your bird’s cage clean and sanitary. Most trays pull out from the cage like a drawer, so you can change the cage liner with ease. Many cages are now designed with space between the floor grate and the litter tray to prevent your curious bird from having access to waste or from eating food that has fallen into the litter tray. Some cage models feature an adjustable-height litter tray. New models, like the Clean Life Cage, even feature lip-edged tray drawers that fit snugly against the base to prevent gaps where seed and droppings collect and harbor bacteria.

dish access
In larger cages, outside-access bird dishes are common. These are very convenient, as they keep you from having to reach inside the cage to fill water or food dishes. Some cages have dishes that are attached to the door. Some food-access doors even feature solid metal backing, which cuts down on food scatter outside the dishes. Some doors are positioned low in the cage, so scatter is deflected by the seed guard.